#2 They were remarkably stubborn in their unwillingness to lose
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Kolkata lost a grand total of two games all season. Of the 17 games that they played, they drew 10, and that is a sign of a champion side – a side that just refuses to lose.
When it came to the business end of the tournament, Kolkata were thoroughly professional. From the ninth game of the league stage onwards, they were unbeaten – a run that stretched to nine games. Kolkata know how to win championships; they know that it is all about winning the war, not the battles.
For Molina, this consistency was down to the fact that he had a capable squad, not just a capable first XI.
The defence was a huge asset for Kolkata, which conceded just 17 goals in 17 games this season. Only Mumbai City FC, with 11 goals conceded in 16 games, let in fewer goals than Kolkata.
And that is to the eternal credit of Henrique Sereno, who led the Kolkata defence with aplomb.
